Category: Video Games

Celebrating Age of Empires in 2025

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Monster Hunter Wilds Endgame Expansion Moved Up as Game Suffers From ‘Soft’ Sales

Monster Hunter Wilds got off to an incredible sales start when it launched in February. Unfortunately, it seems as though its success has fallen off one heck of a cliff since then – and Capcom appears to be trying to amend that by releasing an endgame content expansion much sooner than expected.

The sales data comes from Capcom’s quarterly earnings report, which includes a slide presentation showing sales data for the company’s top ten best-selling games from April 1 to June 30. The presentation shows that Monster Hunter Wilds sold 477k copies during that period, only just above the 389k copies sold of four-year-old game Monster Hunter Rise. Wilds was the 9th best-selling game of the quarter for Capcom, while Rise was the 10th.

To be clear, even though Rise is four years old, those aren’t exactly gangbusters sales figures either. In Capcom’s consolidated financial results, the company says, “Regarding catalog titles, although sales were soft for Monster Hunter Wilds, the latest title in the series released in February this year, Monster Hunter Rise, a previous title in the same series, continued to see sales growth.” This is technically true, in that Rise continues to sell copies, but calling it “growth” is a bit strong.

Last quarter, Monster Hunter Rise only sold 384k copies. In fact, sales of the game slowed down significantly throughout last year after the game sold 725k in Q1, 640k in Q2, and 691k in Q3. That’s not really shocking, especially once Wilds was announced – people were bound to hold off on buying Rise if there was a brand new game just around the corner.

What’s more interesting here is how much better Rise was selling throughout most of last year, several years after its release, than Wilds is selling now. Just a few months out from its launch, Wilds saw a steep, steep sales dropoff. After releasing during the first quarter to a Capcom record-setting 10.108 million copies sold, 8 million of which were in just three days, Wilds shot up to become the best-selling game in the U.S. year-to-date according to Circana. And while it’s still No.1 as of July 5 due to that initial spike, for the month of June, it didn’t even crack the top 20 best-selling games.

Why is Wilds having such a bad time of things? Well, despite reviewing well initially, its endgame content is sorely lacking compared to past games, so the many fans who play Monster Hunter over time, with friends, are struggling. It’s also suffering from severe performance issues on PC specifically that have yet to be fully resolved. Despite new content and seasons, fans remain unsatisfied with the state of the game, to the point where some players are taking things too far and apparently harassing and threatening individual Capcom team members over it.

Which all perhaps explains why Capcom has bumped up a planned expansion of endgame content from the end of September to August 13. The planned expansion will include a new level of quest difficulty, a new rewards system, weapon balance adjustments, and other improvements. It’s unclear as of yet if this will solve the performance issues, but perhaps it will sate those frustrated at Wilds’ weaker endgame.

We’ll have to wait for more details to see if this is the start of a turnaround or if Wilds will go down as one of the more disappointing Monster Hunter titles long-term. In the meantime, perhaps a Rise Renaissance is on the horizon if fans gravitate back to older games.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Subnautica 2 delay actually proves Krafton aren’t mismanaging their games, says exec

If the messy situation regarding Subnautica 2 and those ousted studio heads has led you to wonder if publishers Krafton might be mismanaging the development of their games, the company’s chief financial officer reckons you’re diving in the wrong sea. According to Dongkeun Bae, Subnautica 2’s delay from 2025 release to 2026 is proof that Krafton are doing a good job with that, actually.

The exec said as much via translator during a recent earnings call that, among many other things, featured the publishers’ own version of the events surrounding Striking Distance CEO Steve Papoutsis being parachuted in at Unknown Worlds to replace senior executives Charlie Cleveland, Max McGuire, and Ted Gill last month. Whether Subnautica 2 was genuinely ready to release in early access this year is a key part of the whole fracas. Krafton say no, the three fired leads say yes, and now the latter are suing. The complicating factor is that there was a big bonus for the studio’s workers tied to the game releasing this year.

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Nintendo Was The Only One Making Steady Revenue On NES, Says Capcom Vet

“Profits skyrocketed with the switch from cartridges to discs”.

Former Capcom and Street Fighter II producer Yoshiki Okamoto has been sharing insights into his time working on games for the NES / Famicom over on his YouTube channel, and it gives us an interesting glimpse at game development at the time.

Translated by Automaton Media, Okamoto detailed that it was harder for third-party developers such as Capcom and retailers to actually turn a profit making and selling games for the Famicom. And, from his experience, “only Nintendo had a guaranteed profit.”

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Shantae’s new costumes revealed in Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution

Hi, everyone. I’m Matt Bozon, director of the Shantae series. Today I’d like to fill you in on some exciting news about Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution, and share more details about the project!

If you’re familiar with the Shantae video game series, you might have heard that the original Shantae game had an unfinished sequel that never saw the light of day. Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is that long-lost sequel. The original production ended in 2004, leaving the game only half finished – but the story didn’t end there.

A long-lost genie adventure

Twenty years later the original Shantae Advance team was reunited thanks to WayForward and Limited Run Games. We opened our archives, dove into old files, and set out to complete the project in its original code base using the tools of a bygone era. It was a labor of love, preservation, and improvisation. Now, the project is finally complete after over two decades, and will be “Ret-2-Go” on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.

So, is Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution an old game or a new game? Is it game #2 in the series? Or game #6? Great questions. First and foremost, this is a brand-new, never-before-released Shantae game that was completed in 2025. But canonically, it’s the 2nd game in the series. The story takes place directly after the events of Shantae 1, but before Risky’s Revenge. The overall play style builds on lessons learned from all previous Shantae efforts. Combat and platforming are quick and snappy, writing and humor are on point, and quality-of-life elements are in line with the modern series.

As for features, the game contains three stand-alone experiences; First, there’s the modern version built for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, which contains high-resolution portrait artwork, UI, and cinematics. Second is Classic Mode, which preserves all of 2004-era pixel artwork in its original resolution, and can be played as a stand alone game – effectively bonus content. Third is Battle Mode, which is a two-to-four player local party game in which players try to clobber each other and collect power ups, while navigating a rotating arena. 


Shantae’s new costumes revealed in Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution

Shanae’s new costumes

But wait, there’s more. All of the above is included in the Standard Edition, but we’re also offering a Deluxe Edition, which contains three exclusive costumes made especially for fans. See Shantae as you’ve never seen her before – in her Relic Hunter Costume, High Voltage Costume, and Sizzle Armor Costume. Not only do these costumes change Shantae’s in-world sprites, but they also change her high-res dialogue portraits and the properties of her magic attacks. With the Deluxe Edition, all three of these costumes are available from the get-go. Let’s dig in:

The Relic Hunter Costume is inspired by Uncle Mimic’s old geezer friends, the Relic Hunters, who feature prominently in the game. For this costume we wondered what would happen if Shantae cosplayed as Uncle Mimic. She’d definitely want to make some adjustments of her own. What do you think? Wearing this adventurous getup grants a permanent power-up to Shantae’s Pike Ball Magic.

The High Voltage Costume grants hyper energy to Shantae’s electrical Storm Puff magic. The modern style and holographic ponytail are as nonsensical as it gets – right down to the “1994” graphical text on the pant leg – signifying the year that Shantae was created. We thought it would be fun to give her a techwear-inspired outfit with dayglow colors.

Last – and in this case, least – is the Sizzle Armor Costume. This impressive “swimsuit” of armor provides a significant boost to Shantae’s Fireball Magic. This design is inspired by 1980s anime bikini armor, with fluorescent reds, dragonslayer-esque plating, and gleaming gemstones and baubles. Shantae’s ponytail even changes into a fire-whip.

So there you have it – all the details on the all-new Deluxe Edition content for Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution. Both the Standard Edition and the Deluxe Edition will be available to purchase and download on August 19 – less than a month away. After waiting 20 years to get this game into your hands, I can hardly believe it’s finally about to happen. I hope you all are as excited to play the game as we are. Thank you for supporting this series.

The Biggest Pokémon Card Crashers And Climbers This Week – July 30

Prices for Scarlet and Violet 151 Pokémon cards have been moving fast this month. As more booster boxes get opened and singles flood the market, some of the set’s Illustration Rares have started to dip in value, especially the middle evolutions of the starter Pokémon. On the flip side, big Special Illustration Rares of fan favourite Kanto starter final evolutions are seeing steady climbs as collectors chase the best‑looking cards from the set.

Charizard ex, Blastoise ex and Venusaur ex are the top of the climbers hill this week with noticeable price jumps, while Zapdos ex and Alakazam ex are also gaining traction with collectors and competitive players. All five of these cards have strong artwork, great playability, or both, which is helping push prices higher.

The same can’t be said for some of the Illustration Rares of Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and their evolutions. These cards spiked when the set first dropped, but with more supply on the market, prices have started to settle. They’re still popular pulls, just not commanding the same premium they did in June.

Crashers

While the Kanto starters’ final evolutions are climbing, their earlier forms have started to dip in value as more Scarlet & Violet 151 product hits the market. Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur were among the hottest Illustration Rares when the set launched, but prices are cooling as supply catches up with demand. Charmander is down 14% to $44.44, Squirtle has dropped 7% to $43.80, and Bulbasaur has fallen 18% to $32.20. These cards are still popular with collectors who want to complete the evolutionary lines, but they no longer command the inflated early prices from the set’s release month.

The middle evolutions are following the same trend. Charmeleon has dropped 14% to $30.54, while Wartortle is down 15% to $27.36. Both Illustration Rares have fantastic artwork and remain fun pulls, but they simply don’t hold the same appeal as the Special Illustration Rare ex cards of their final evolutions. As Scarlet & Violet 151 booster boxes continue to be opened, the market has become saturated with these mid‑tier rares, bringing prices back down to more reasonable levels.

Even with these price drops, the Illustration Rares of the Kanto starters and their evolutions are still great pickups for collectors who want the full line. Prices are likely to stabilise at these lower points, making now a good time to grab them if you missed out early. The final evolutions will continue to be the big-ticket items, but these cards remain iconic pieces of the set for anyone who grew up with the original Pokémon games.

Climbers

Charizard ex has risen to $210.00, up 14% from early July. It remains one of the most in-demand cards in the set thanks to its powerful Explosive Vortex attack, which hits for 330 damage, and the fantastic Special Illustration Rare artwork that collectors continue to chase. Blastoise ex has seen an even sharper jump, climbing 28% to $84.99, driven by both its intimidating art and competitive appeal.

Solid Shell makes Blastoise surprisingly tanky, and Twin Cannons can unload massive damage by discarding Water Energy from your hand.Venusaur ex is seeing a similar surge, up 27% to $69.99. While Charizard usually grabs the spotlight, Venusaur’s Illustration Rare version has become a favourite for collectors who love its vibrant, personality-filled design. Its ability Tranquil Flower lets you heal 60 damage every turn while in the Active Spot, and Dangerous Toxwhip spreads status conditions alongside 150 damage, making it a tricky card to deal with in grindy matchups.

Legendary Pokémon aren’t being left out either. Zapdos ex has climbed 23% to $61.99, buoyed by a dynamic Illustration Rare that shows the Legendary Bird mid-strike. It isn’t just binder candy, though. Voltaic Float removes its retreat cost when it has Lightning Energy attached, and Multishot Lightning can deal big damage to both the Active and a damaged Benched Pokémon.

Rounding out the climbers is Alakazam ex, which has risen the fastest of the bunch, up 35% to $44.98. The surreal, psychedelic artwork on its Special Illustration Rare has kept collector interest high, but it’s also a flexible attacker. Mind Jack punishes opponents with full benches, while Dimensional Hand can be used even if Alakazam stays on the Bench, giving it options that most other attackers don’t have.

10 Most Expensive Cards In Black Bolt and White Flare

Black Bolt and White Flare are the final Scarlet and Violet expansions, released together earlier this month. Each half of the set has its own focus, with Black Bolt featuring Pokémon like Zekrom, Kyurem, and Genesect, while White Flare highlights Reshiram, Keldeo, and Hydreigon. What makes these sets unique is the new Black White Rares and the fact that every single Pokémon has at least one Illustration Rare or Special Illustration Rare.

Among the most expensive cards are the Black White Rare versions of Zekrom ex, Reshiram ex, and Victini, all highly desirable for both their powerful attacks and prestige foil treatments. Special Illustration Rares like Hydreigon ex, Keldeo ex, Genesect ex, and Kyurem ex are my favorites, plus they’re cheaper than their Black White Rare versions.

Pokémon TCG Price Updates

I can’t believe I was singing Amazon’s praises last week for some near MSRP deals on sealed Pokémon TCG product, as this week they’re back up to ridiculous pricing. You should stay away until they lower their prices and stick to TCGPlayer and eBay right now, which in some cases are a clean $15 below Amazon’s current pricing. The benefit of buying from TCGPlayer is the vetted sellers and full transparancy on market values, but if you can save even more on eBay then go for it. All links are above to make your life easier.

Last Week’s Crashers and Climbers

Scarlet and Violet base set prices have been volatile lately, with Illustration Rares seeing steady gains while some Special Illustration Rares have cooled off. The Ralts evolutionary line has been one of the biggest surprises this month, with Ralts and Kirlia both climbing around 28% in value. Their popularity seems to be driven more by collectors chasing the full evolution line rather than playability alone. Gardevoir ex has also risen significantly, up to $54.99, thanks to its strong Psychic Embrace ability and frequent appearances in competitive decklists. Miraidon ex and Koraidon ex have seen smaller but consistent gains, reflecting their continued use in Lightning and Fighting decks.

At the same time, several Illustration Rares have dropped sharply. Dondozo and Starly saw the biggest falls, down 30% and 37% respectively, likely due to their limited competitive relevance. Fidough, Armarouge, and Pachirisu also dipped, correcting from their initial launch hype. Overall, Scarlet and Violet’s market is shifting as collectors focus on full evolution lines and competitively viable cards, while once‑popular lower‑tier Illustration Rares settle into lower price ranges.

Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of “Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior”. Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.

Grounded 2’s early access gets off to a flying start as Obsidian detail the next year of updates

Obsidian’s survival game Grounded 2 has launched into early access, and the developers have one of those old-timey roadmaps explaining how it will change before the 1.0 release, give or take a few teasing redactions. This being a game about miniaturised children fighting insects, of course, the road in question may be only a few metres long. A garden pathmap, perhaps? Let’s have a look, then.

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Riot Games’ League of Legends Card Battler Riftbound Gets Release Date and Product List

Riot Games has revealed that its League of Legends card game, Riftbound, will launch on October 31 in multiple regions.

The physical game (not to be confused with Legends of Runeterra) will be available to preorder from Riot’s Merch Store starting on August 4.

“One of the primary goals of the Riftbound team is making Riftbound as accessible as possible to League of Legends players and TCG players alike, as soon as possible,” a press release explains.

Riftbound Product List Revealed

If you’re keen on trying your hand at Riftbound, a store locator will go live on August 4 to find local game stores, while Riot says “Select mass market stores may have Riftbound available at launch, as well.”

The initial offerings will be split between decks and booster boxes, with ‘Origins’ sets being available from October 31.

These include Proving Grounds, a starter set which includes decks based on Annie, Garen, Lux, and Master Yi, as well as Champions Decks which include Viktor, Jinx, and Lee Sin decks.

Players can also pick up 14-card booster packs to supplement their decks or build fresh ones, while booster boxes will include 24 packs. Riot has also promised playmats and card sleeves featuring Ahri, Jinx, Miss Fortune, and Volibear.

Riot Store preorders will require a Riot ID, and there will be limits on purchases. Participating stores will host Riftbound: Origins launch events, with a Promo booster up for grabs, while Riot has said it will “continue to monitor and assess the overall market demand over time for Riftbound: Origins and are prepared to take additional actions as needed.”

There’s an Arcane Boxed Set coming, too, with preorders opening at the end of August.

In the crowded landscape of TCGs, is there room for another? That remains to be seen, but Riot’s clearly excited about Riftbound.

Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He’s a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife’s dismay.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound review

In the realm of pixel artistry, action platformer Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a pretty work of dither and parallax. It’s full of set pieces reminiscent of a misremembered arcade’s heyday. Between the more standard run ‘n’ chop levels, there are jetski chasedowns, motorcycle pursuits, cargo train battles, bulldozer escapes, and gas chamber breakouts. If it didn’t frequently result in a death screen, I’d say it barely pauses for breath. The whole game is less a mineshaft of nostalgia as it is a shale fracking job, flushing you with jets of high pressure pseudomemory. I’m just a little sad that its strongest gimmick soon dissolves into the background, overwhelmed by floods of demon baddies.

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